Arkansas expands stipend program for computer science teachers

September 11, 2019

The Arkansas Department of Education has expanded its stipend program for computer science teachers, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Monday, to support further development of computer science programs for high school students and help address the shortage of STEM teachers.

The expanded stipend program will allow each high school computer science teacher in Arkansas to apply for up to $10,000 in stipends over a five-year period.

According to 100Kin10, a group dedicated to abating the STEM teacher shortage, financial compensation is key to incentivize careers in STEM education. By giving teachers access to more resources and professional development and creating a culture of support within education, schools can become a place where STEM professionals want to work, Talia Milgrom-Elcott, 100Kin10’s executive director, told EdScoop.

“So much, of course, about the workplace itself matters,” she said. “So if you’re working in a place where you are professionally growing, where you are collaborating, where someone cares about your experience, those things are super high impact.”